Apparatuses and methods for loading a head onto a disk medium

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for improving loading and unloading of a read or write head onto and off of a disk medium. Particular embodiments may assist in loading a read or write head to, or unloading a read or write head from, a load location over a surface of a disk medium in such a manner that damage to the surface of the disk medium (e.g., load location) is either prevented or minimized. The prevention or reduction of damage may be achieved by ensuring that a read or write head has sufficient clearance over the surface of a disk medium as the read or write head moves over the surface (e.g., as the head moves parallel to the surface) during a head loading or unloading process.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/401,751, filed Feb. 21, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,553,365, thecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Invention(s) described herein relate to read or write heads and diskmedia, and, more specifically, to apparatuses and methods for improvingthe loading and unloading of a read or write head onto and off of a diskmedium.

BACKGROUND

Spinstands are used for multiple purposes with respect to disk drives,including characterization, testing, and development of (read-write)heads and disk media, particularly magnetic heads and magnetic diskmedia.

In order to perform such operations, spinstands require accurate andprecise positioning of a read or write head (e.g., via a headpositioning mechanism) at various track offsets for the purposes ofreading and writing to disk media. Additionally, spinstands typicallyutilize a mechanism for loading and unloading the read or write headonto and off disk media.

Usually, the read or write head is part of a magnetic head-gimbalsassembly (HGA), which is loaded onto magnetic disk during testing andunloaded thereafter. Some mechanisms load and unload the HGA byproviding flexion suspension of the HGA in horizontal position using asupport lift tab that is coupled to the HGA. Other mechanisms load andunload the HGA using a pivot point fixture that moves the HGA on and offthe disk medium surface. Such loading/unloading mechanisms supportoperations for a wide range of positioning on the disk medium surface.

Additional mechanisms may utilize a static ramp loading mechanism, whichuses a constant loading-unloading point (i.e., loading zone) on the diskmedium surface. However, after a certain number of iterations, the useof the static ramp loader can result in a damaged disk medium surface atthe loading zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and notlimitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings. With respect tothe figures:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary head loading mechanismassembly in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating exemplary usage of anexemplary ramp loader, with a disk medium, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary spinstand assembly inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary head loading mechanismused, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention,being used with a spinstand assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of improvingloading and unloading of a read or write head onto and off of a diskmedium in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the presentinvention. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art thatthese specific details need not be employed to practice variousembodiments of the present invention. In some instances, well knowncomponents or methods have not been described in detail to avoidunnecessarily obscuring various embodiments of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for apparatuses and methodsfor improving loading and unloading of a read or write head onto and offof a disk medium. In particular, various embodiments may assist inloading a read or write head to, or unloading a read or write head from,a load location over a surface of a disk medium in such a manner thatdamage to the surface of the disk medium (e.g., load location) is eitherprevented or minimized. Additionally, various embodiments may change thelocation at which the head is loaded to the surface of the disk medium(i.e., change the load location) between loading and unloadingiterations. In doing so, certain embodiments may reduce the chance thata head once loaded to the surface of the disk medium will encounter andsustain damage from a location on the surface of disk medium havingdamage from a previous load process It should be noted that variousembodiments may be configured to perform the head loading or unloadingprocesses discussed herein with respect to the “top” surface of the diskmedium, the “bottom” surface of the disk medium, or both.

Depending on the embodiment, the prevention or reduction of surface tothe disk medium damage may be achieved by ensuring that a read or writehead has sufficient clearance over the surface of a disk medium as theread or write head moves over the surface (e.g., as the head movesparallel to the surface) during a load or unload process, especiallyduring multiple loading/unloading processes at the same location of thesurface. Embodiments may provide a head such sufficient clearance over asurface of a disk medium by lifting or raising the head perpendicularlywith respect to the surface, and maintaining the head in a lifted/raisedstate as the head is moved over the surface of the disk medium. With theprevention or minimization of surface damage to a disk medium,embodiments may extend the time in which the disk medium needsreplacing, thereby extending the life of a disk medium (i.e., extractmore use out of a given disk medium). This can have a direct impact ontest the reusability of a given disk medium and a reduction in testcosts, especially where an embodiment involves a spinstand.

Additionally, as noted above, some embodiments may prevent damage to thehead by variably changing the position of the head loading mechanismbetween head loading and unloading iterations. For various embodiments,the change in position of the head loading mechanism results in a changein the location to which the head loading mechanism assists the headduring a load process. In some embodiments, the position of the headloading mechanism may also be changed between load process and an unloadprocess, in order to reduce the chance of damage to the surface of thedisk medium or the chance of damage to the head.

Some embodiments include an apparatus for loading a head onto a diskmedium comprising a head positioning mechanism configured to move (e.g.,position or reposition) the head over the surface of the disk medium,and a head loading mechanism configured to assist in loading the head toa load location (also referred to herein as a “load position”) over thesurface of the disk medium. The head positioning mechanism may move thehead from a position off the surface of the disk medium, to a positionover the surface of the disk medium. The head loading mechanism mayassist as the head positioning mechanism moves the head from theposition off the surface to the position over the surface. After thehead is loaded onto the disk medium, the head loading mechanism may movefrom a first load position to a second load position after the head isloaded onto the disk medium, thereby changing the load location toanother load location. For particular embodiments, the head may be partof a head-gimbals assembly, and the apparatus may be part of a spinstand(e.g., used for testing magnetic disk medium, or testing a magnetic reador write head).

Additionally, some embodiments include a method for loading a head ontoa disk medium comprising moving a head loading mechanism to a first loadposition such that at the first load position, the head loadingmechanism can assist in loading the head to a first load location overthe surface of the disk medium. The method may further comprise movingthe head from the first position off the surface to the first positionover the surface, and guiding the head to the first load location by thehead loading mechanism (i.e., using the head loading mechanism) as thehead moves from the first position off the surface to the first positionover the surface. The method may further comprise moving the headloading mechanism to a second load position such that at the second loadposition, the head loading mechanism loads the head to a second loadlocation over the surface as the head is moved from a second positionoff the surface of the disk medium to a second position over the surfaceof the disk medium.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary head loading mechanismassembly 100 in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention. As shown, the loading mechanism assembly 100 comprises a ramploader 102, an axis crossbar 104, a linear slider 106, a linear actuator110, and a base 112.

In some embodiments, the ramp loader 102 is configured to assist inloading a read or write head over a surface of a disk medium from alocation off of the surface of the disk medium. Additionally, in someembodiments, the ramp loader 102 is configured to assist in unloading aread or write head from over a surface of a disk medium to a locationoff of the surface of the disk medium. For example, during the loadingprocess or unloading process, the ramp loader 102 may provide assistanceby displacing the head away from the surface of the disk medium as thehead moves over the surface. Specifically, the ramp loader 102 mayinitially displace the head. from a first elevation with respect to theplane of the surface to a second elevation with respect to the plane ofthe surface, when the head is positioned off the surface of the diskmedium. Subsequently, the ramp loader 102 may restore the head from thesecond elevation to the first elevation when the head is at or near aload position over the surface (e.g., desired data track of the diskmedium).

The ramp loader 102 may comprise a sliding surface along which the headslides as the head is positioned (i.e., moved) by a head positioningassembly/mechanism (e.g., as the head is moved between a position offthe surface of the disk medium and a position over the surface of thedisk medium). In order to facilitate engagement and displacement of thehead, the sliding surface may comprise a first ramp disposed at a firstend of the sliding surface configured to receive the head onto thesliding surface as the head is being moved from a position off thesurface of the disk medium to a position over the surface of the diskmedium (e.g., during a head load process). The sliding surface mayfurther comprise a second ramp disposed at a second end of the slidingsurface, opposite the first end, configured to release the head from thesliding surface (i.e., allowing the head to slide off the slidingsurface) as the head is being moved from a position off the surface ofthe disk medium to a position over the surface of the disk medium (e.g.,during a head load process). During a head unload process, the roles ofthe first and second ramp may reverse, with the first ramp being furtherconfigured to release the head from the sliding surface and the secondramp being further configured to receive the head onto the slidingsurface, as the head is being moved from a position over the surface ofthe disk medium to a position off the surface of the disk medium.

The slope of the first ramp and the slope of the second ramp may beconfigured to slide underneath or slide over a structural feature of thehead (e.g., a tab) as the head and the ramp loader 102 move relative toone another, thereby facilitating engagement of the head with thesliding surface and facilitating elevation displacement of the head withrespect to the surface of the disk medium. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the slope of the first ramp and the slope of the secondramp are not necessarily the same and may vary among embodiments.

Disposed between the first ramp and the second ramp, the sliding surfacemay further comprise a level portion, along which the head slides,during a head loading or unloading process, as the head moves between aposition off the surface of the disk medium and a position over thesurface of the disk medium. For some embodiments, the level portion maybe configured to substantially maintain a displacement of the headcaused by either the first ramp or the second ramp as the headtransitions from between the first ramp and the second ramp. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the level portion may be only besubstantially level and may, in some embodiments, comprise a gradualslope that assists in the displacement of the head as the head slidesalong the sliding surface of the ramp loader 102.

Depending on the embodiment, the ramp loader 102 may engage and displacethe head by keeping the head stationary and moving the ramp loader 102so that the ramp loader 102 slides underneath or over the head (e.g.,using the linear actuator 110). Alternatively, the ramp loader 102 mayengage and displace the head by keeping the ramp loader 102 stationaryand moving the head (e.g., by way of a head positioningassembly/mechanism) such that is slides onto or underneath the ramploader 102).

The ramp loader 102 may displace the head such that there is sufficientdistance between the head and the surface as the head positioningmechanism moves the head over the surface from a position off thesurface to a position over the surface. Generally, during a loadprocess, the ramp loader 102 slides underneath or above the head (i.e.,engages the head) while the head is positioned off the surface of thedisk medium (e.g., by a head position mechanism). Subsequently, duringan unload process, the head slides off the ramp loader 102. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the ramp loader 102 may providethe head further lift by repositioning itself with respect to thesurface of the disk medium.

In various embodiments, the ramp loader 102 is mounted to the axiscrossbar 104, which is mounted to the linear slider 106. The axiscrossbar 104 may permit adjustment of the ramp loader 102 along aparticular axis relative to the head loading mechanism assembly 100. Forinstance, the axis crossbar 104 may allow a lateral repositioning of theramp loader 102 (i.e., along the Y-axis) in order to adjust the ramploader 102's position with respect to the head, the disk medium, orboth. For some embodiments, adjusting the axis crossbar 104 may entailloosening fasteners configured to couple the axis crossbar 104 to thelinear slider 106 or configured to couple the ramp loader 102 to theaxis crossbar 104. Those skilled in the art would appreciate that forcertain embodiments, the adjustment of the axis crossbar 104 may befacilitated through other means (e.g., mechanical means such as anotheractuator), which may be electronically controlled.

For some embodiments, the linear slider 106 facilitates movement of theramp loader 102 relative to the head and the disk medium (neither ofwhich are shown). The linear slider 106 may be coupled to the ramploader 102 such that movement of the linear slider 106 along an axis(e.g., X-axis or Y-axis) results in relative movement of the ramp loader102. For example, to enable assistance by the ramp loader 102 during ahead loading or unloading process, the linear slider 106 may beconfigured such that movement of the linear slider 106 along the X-axisresults in movement of the ramp loader 102 along the X-axis. Dependingon the embodiment, movement by way of the linear slider 106 may causesome or all of the ramp loader 102 to move over the surface of the diskmedium, thereby facilitating positioning of the ramp loader 102 over thesurface of the disk medium (not shown). Once positioned, the ramp loader102 may assist the head load to or unload from the surface of the diskmedium as the head moves from a position off the surface of the diskmedium, a position over a surface of the disk medium. In particularembodiments, the head may slide across the ramp of the ramp loader 102as the head moves from a position off the surface of the disk medium, aposition over a surface of the disk medium.

The movement of ramp loader 102 may be along the radius of the diskmedium (i.e., move radially inward or outward with respect to thesurface of the disk medium), thereby enabling the ramp loader 102 toassist in loading or unloading the head to or from a select diameter(e.g., inner, middle, or outer diameter) of the disk medium. Generally,the diameter of the disk medium corresponds to a track of the diskmedium capable of storing data.

By engaging and displacing the head, and maintaining the displacement ofthe head as the head moves over or off of the surface of a disk medium,some embodiments ensure that any flexion or compression of the head(e.g., resulting from the head positioning mechanism/assembly) isprevented or mitigated as the head moves over the surface of the diskmedium during a head load or unload process, thereby avoiding ormitigating damage to that surface.

Movement of the linear slider 106 (e.g., along the X-axis) may befacilitated by the linear actuator 110. For example, the linear actuator110 may cause the linear slider 106 to slide relative to the base 112,along the X-axis, whereby movement of the linear slider 106 positionsthe ramp loader 102 to assist in the loading or unloading of the head.The linear actuator 110 utilized may be any one of several types ofactuators known in the art. Examples of the linear actuator 110 include,without limitation, electric actuators, hydraulic actuators, andpneumatic actuators, which may be utilized in the manufacturing ordevelopment of disk drives. Depending on the embodiment, the linearactuator 110 may be automatically controlled by way of computer softwareoperating on a computer system (e.g., computer system controlling aspinstand utilizing the loading mechanism assembly 100), or throughmanual control by a human operator (e.g., person utilizing a spinstandutilizing the loading mechanism assembly 100).

Through the base 112, the loading mechanism assembly 100 may be mountedto a tool or device utilized in the manufacturing or development of adisk drive component. For example, the base 112 may allow the loadingmechanism assembly 100 to mount to a spinstand, which as noted herein,are used for multiple purposes with respect to disk drives, includingcharacterization, testing, and development of (read-write) heads anddisk media.

Those of skilled in the art will appreciate that the one or morecomponents of the loading mechanism assembly 100 may be constructed frommaterials typically used in the construction of disk drive componenttools, such as a spinstand.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating exemplary usage of anexemplary ramp loader 202, with a disk medium 200, in accordance withsome embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 2A, the ramp loader202 is positioned, relative to the disk medium 200, for loading orunloading of a head to and from a load/unload location 214 of the diskmedium 200. The load/unload location represents an outer diameter trackof the disk medium 200. In FIG. 2B, the ramp loader 202 is positioned,relative to the disk medium 200, for loading or unloading of a head toand from a load/unload location 216 of the disk medium 200. Theload/unload location represents an inner or middle diameter track of thedisk medium 200.

In FIG. 2A, the ramp loader 202 is coupled to a mount 204, whichaccording to some embodiment, may be coupled to a loading mechanismassembly configured to assist in the loading or unloading of a head toand from a surface of the disk medium 200.

As noted herein, in order to facilitate engagement and displacement ofthe head, the ramp loader 202 may comprise a sliding surface 212 alongwhich the head slides as the head is positioned (i.e., moved) by a headpositioning assembly/mechanism (e.g., as the head is moved between aposition off the surface of the disk medium and a position over thesurface of the disk medium). As also noted herein, the sliding surface212 may comprise a first ramp 206 and a second ramp 210 having a slopeconfigured to slide underneath or sliding over a structural feature ofthe head (e.g., a tab), thereby facilitating elevation displacement ofthe head with respect to the surface of the disk medium 200. The ramploader 202 may further comprise a level portion 208 disposed between thefirst ramp 206 and the second ramp 210, along which the head slides asthe head moves between a position off the surface of the disk medium anda position over the surface of the disk medium 200.

To adjust the vertical positioning of the ramp loader 202 with respectto the disk medium 200, the ramp loader 202 may be coupled to the mount204 using fasteners, which facilitate manual repositioning of the ramploader 202 with respect to the mount 204. Those skilled in the art wouldappreciate that for certain embodiments, the vertical repositioning ofthe ramp loader 202 with respect to the disk medium may be facilitatedthrough other means (e.g., mechanical means), which may cause the ramploader 202 to reposition itself with respect to the mount 204, or whichmay cause the mount 204 to reposition itself with respect to the diskmedium 200.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary spinstand assembly 300 inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The spinstandassembly 300 comprises a clamp mechanism 302, a disk medium 304, aspindle motor 306, a base 308, a loading mechanism assembly 310, ahead-gimbals assembly 312, a cartridge 314, a linear slider 316, and ahead positioning mechanism 318. As described herein, the spinstandassembly 300 may be used in the manufacturing or development of magneticdisk medium or a magnetic read-write head. For some embodiments, thedisk medium 304 may be a magnetic disk medium, configured to receivedata via a magnetic write head, and store data for subsequent retrievalvia a magnetic read head. The disk medium 304 may be mounted to andretained by the spinstand assembly 300 using the clamp mechanism 302,which may comprise a spindle 320 adapted to receive the disk medium 302and a fastener 322 that secures the disk medium 302 to the spindle 320(e.g., a threaded fastener configured to twist onto the spindle). Theclamp mechanism 302 may be coupled to the spindle motor 306 tofacilitate rotation of the disk medium 304 during operation of thespinstand assembly 300.

The head-gimbals assembly 312 may comprise a read or write head utilizedin one or more operations of the spinstand assembly 300. Thehead-gimbals assembly 312 may be coupled to the spinstand assembly 300through the cartridge 314, which couples the head-gimbals assembly 314to the head positioning mechanism 318. Various embodiments utilize thehead positioning mechanism 318 in positioning the head (of thehead-gimbals assembly 312) over a surface of the disk medium 304.Movement of the head positioning mechanism 318 may be enabled throughthe linear slider 316, which may be adapted to slide relative to theremainder of the spinstand assembly 300. In various embodiments, thelinear slider 316 may slide along the X-axis or Y-axis shown in FIG. 3.

As described herein, the loading mechanism assembly 310 may beconfigured to assist in the loading or unloading of the head-gimbalsassembly 312. For some embodiments, the loading mechanism assembly 310may be similar to that of the loading mechanism assembly 100,illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary head loading mechanismused, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention,being used with a spinstand assembly 400. The spinstand assembly 400 maycomprise a disk medium 402, a ramp loader 404, a mount 406, an axiscrossbar 408, and a head-gimbals assembly including a head 410. In someembodiments, the ramp loader 404 may be similar to the ramp loader 102illustrated and described in FIG. 1 or similar to the ramp loader 202illustrated and described in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart 500 illustrating an exemplary method of improvingloading and unloading of a read or write head onto and off of a diskmedium in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. Themethod 500 begins at operation 502, where a head loading mechanism maybe moved (i.e., positioned) to a load position such that the headloading mechanism is at least partially over a planar surface of a diskmedium. In some embodiments, the head loading mechanism may bepositioned using an actuator, configured to move the head loadingmechanism radially inward or outward with respect to the surface of thedisk medium. In accordance various embodiments (such as those describedherein), the head loading mechanism, once positioned, can assist inloading to a load location over a planar surface of the disk medium, orunloading the head from a unload location over the planar surface of thedisk medium.

At operation 504, a head (read, write, or both) may be moved from alocation off the planar surface of the disk medium to a location overthe planar surface of the disk medium. In certain embodiments, the headmay be moved from the location off the planar surface of the disk mediumto the location over the planar surface of the disk medium during a headloading process. During operation 506, as the head is moved from thelocation off the planar surface of the disk medium to the location overthe planar surface of the disk medium, the head may be guided to a loadlocation over the planar surface of the disk medium by way of the headloading mechanism.

At operation 508, the head may be moved from a location over the planarsurface of the disk medium to a location off the planar surface of thedisk medium. In particular embodiments, the head may be moved from thelocation over the planar surface of the disk medium to the location offthe planar surface of the disk medium during a head unload process.During operation 510, as the head may be moved from the location overthe planar surface of the disk medium to the location off the planarsurface of the disk medium, the head may be guided from an unloadlocation over the planar surface of the disk medium by way of the headloading mechanism. Operation 508 may be performed once the head hasconcluded a read operation or a write operation to the disk medium.

At operation 512, the head loading mechanism may be moved (i.e.,positioned) to a next load position such that the head loading mechanismcontinues to be at least partially over the planar surface of a diskmedium. The method 500 continues with operations 504 to 510. Bypositioning the head loading mechanism to the next load position, thehead loading mechanism can assist in loading to a next load locationover a planar surface of the disk medium, or unloading the head from anext unload location over the planar surface of the disk medium.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or“an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or thelike; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,”“standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construedas limiting the item described to a given time period or to an itemavailable as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompassconventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may beavailable or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, wherethis document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known toone of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass thoseapparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in thefuture.

A group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read asrequiring that each and every one of those items be present in thegrouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly statedotherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or”should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, butrather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly statedotherwise. Furthermore, although items, elements or components of theinvention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural iscontemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to thesingular is explicitly stated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for loading a head onto a disk medium,comprising: providing a disk medium; providing a head loading mechanismcomprising a sliding surface having a level portion disposed between apair of ramps that slope upward from the level portion and upward withrespect to the disk medium, along which the head slides as the headmoves between a position off the surface of the disk medium and aposition over the surface of the disk medium, moving the head loadingmechanism to a first load position, wherein at the first load position,the head loading mechanism can assist in loading the head to a firstload location over the surface of the disk medium as the head is movedfrom a first position off the surface of the disk medium to a firstposition over the surface of the disk medium; moving the head from thefirst position off the surface to the first position over the surface;guiding the head to the first load location by the head loadingmechanism as the head moves from the first position off the surface tothe first position over the surface; and moving the head loadingmechanism to a second load position, wherein at the second loadposition, the head loading mechanism loads the head to a second loadlocation over the surface as the head is moved from a second positionoff the surface of the disk medium to a second position over the surfaceof the disk medium; wherein guiding the head to the first load locationby the head loading mechanism comprises: displacing the head from afirst elevation with respect to the surface to a second elevation withrespect to the surface, when the head is at or near the position off thesurface, such that there is sufficient distance between the head and thesurface as the head positioning mechanism moves the head over thesurface from the position off the surface to the position over thesurface; restoring the head to the second elevation when the head is ator near the position over the surface; and releasing the head at thefirst load location over the surface.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: moving the head from the second position off the surface tothe second position over the surface; and guiding the head to the secondload location by the head loading mechanism as the head moves from thesecond position off the surface to the second position over the surface.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the head is moved by a headpositioning mechanism.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the headloading mechanism loads the head to a load location over the surface ofthe disk medium such that the head avoids contact with the surface asthe head is moved from a position off the surface of the disk medium toa position over the surface of the disk medium.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein the first load location is over a first diameter of thesurface, the second load location is over a second diameter of thesurface, and the second diameter of the surface is closer to a center ofthe disk medium than the first diameter of the surface.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the head comprises a lift tab that enables the headloading mechanism to the displace and restore the head.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at the position over the surface, the head slides offthe ramp.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising unloading thehead from an unload location over the surface of the disk medium,wherein the unloading comprises: moving the head from a position overthe surface of the disk medium to a position off the surface of the diskmedium; and guiding the head from the unload location by the headloading mechanism as the head moves from the position over the surfaceto the position off the surface.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereinunloading the head occurs before moving the head loading mechanism fromthe first load position to the second load position.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the method is utilized with a spinstand.